Rules reference

Spider Solitaire Rules

Spider combines two decks, ten columns and eight completed runs. The difficult part is not moving cards; it is preserving same-suit sequences long enough to finish them.

Deck and deal

Spider uses two decks, 104 cards in total. In 1-suit Spider, eight complete sequences of one suit are shuffled together. Two-suit Spider uses four sequences from each of two suits, and four-suit Spider uses two sequences from each suit.

Deal ten tableau columns. The first four columns receive six cards and the remaining six columns receive five. Only the final card of each column is face-up. The other 50 cards form the stock.

Building and moving groups

Tableau columns build downward regardless of color. A 7 can go on an 8 even when the suits differ. Empty columns accept any single card or valid sequence.

Group movement is stricter. You can drag a sequence only when every card in it has the same suit and the ranks descend without a gap. A mixed-suit sequence can be built in the tableau, but it cannot be moved as one unit.

Stock deals

The stock is dealt in five rows of ten cards. Each deal adds one face-up card to every tableau column. In the standard rule, you cannot deal while any column is empty, so plan the last card of each column carefully.

Stock cards can bury a promising sequence, but they also give you new ranks to build on. Before dealing, check whether every column is occupied and whether the new row could complete a run.

Completed runs and scoring

A completed run is a same-suit King-to-Ace sequence. When the full run sits at the top of a column, Spider removes it automatically and flips the new top card if it was face-down. Eight completed runs win the game.

Scoring starts at 500. Every move or stock deal costs one point, and each completed run adds 100. Because moves are subtracted continuously, a long game can push the score below zero. That is normal.

Spider strategy and difficulty

Start with 1-suit Spider if you are learning the game. With only one suit, every descending sequence is also a same-suit sequence, so you can focus on column management and stock timing instead of tracking four suits at once. Once the layout feels natural, move to 2-suits and then 4-suits.

In higher difficulties, preserve same-suit runs deliberately. A mixed-suit descending sequence may look orderly, but it cannot be moved as a group. When you have a choice between extending a mixed sequence and building a shorter same-suit run, the same-suit run is usually the better long-term investment.

Empty columns are especially valuable in Spider. They can hold a complete sequence while you rearrange another column, and they let you move a King or a long run out of the way. Try not to fill every empty column just because a stock deal is available; a board with one flexible column is often stronger than a board with no empty space.

Common Spider mistakes

Moving a mixed-suit sequence as if it were a same-suit group. Mixed groups cannot move together.
Dealing the stock without checking for empty columns. The deal is blocked until every column has a card.
Using an empty column for a low card when a King or long run needs the space later.
Ignoring a completed run that would reveal a face-down card.
Building a tidy mixed sequence when a shorter same-suit run would preserve future moves.

The fix for most of these mistakes is the same: before moving or dealing, ask what the board will look like two moves later. Spider rewards patience more than speed, especially in 2-suit and 4-suit games where same-suit runs are scarce.

Spider Rules FAQ

How many decks does Spider Solitaire use?

Spider uses two standard decks, for 104 cards total. The difficulty selects how many suits are repeated across those decks.

Can I move cards of different suits together?

You can build a tableau sequence with different suits, but a group can only be dragged when every card in the group is the same suit and in uninterrupted descending order.

When can I deal a new stock row?

You can deal when the stock has at least ten cards and every tableau column contains at least one card. The standard rule blocks a deal while any column is empty.

What happens when I complete a King-to-Ace run?

The thirteen same-suit cards are removed automatically and scored as one completed run. If a face-down card is exposed underneath, it flips face-up. Eight completed runs win the game.

How does Spider scoring work?

Start at 500 points. Every move or stock deal costs one point, and every completed run adds 100. The score can go below zero in a long game.

Put the rules into practice with Spider Solitaire, or compare it with FreeCell Solitaire and classic Klondike Solitaire.